5 Best Lake Placid Restaurants

It’s hard to pick just one place as having the best dinner in Lake Placid, so I’m not even going to try! There are so many amazing restaurants in Lake Placid and each of them has their own unique reason for stopping in. In this post, I’ll be sharing 5 of my favorite restaurants and exact;y what they bring to the table. At the end of this post, I’ll link some awesome activities you can do in Lake Placid prior to having a delicious dinner.

If you’re looking for…

1. Laidback Outdoor Seating in Lake Placid.

Tail O’ The Pup

1152 STATE ROUTE 86RAY BROOK, NEW YORK 12977 (518) 891-0777

Not quite IN Lake Placid, but just a short drive (less than 10 minutes) towards Saranac Lake; Tail O’ the Pup is by far one of the best smokehouse BBQ’s I’ve had and just an all-around cool atmosphere. Smokehouse meats, lobster & clam bakes, local beers on tap, and daily live music make this red striped tent stop necessary. Outdoor seating under the tent is perfect for families and individuals alike while live music plays in the background. A playground is available on the grounds as well to keep those little ones occupied while you enjoy your adult time.

After a long hike with friends and a pup, we ordered beers, brisket nachos, and fried cheese curds to start. I could have eaten the entire basket of cheese curds if I wasn’t terribly excited for my pork shoulder. Everything was smoked to perfection and the staff was really nice and helpful. I look forward to coming back and trying more menu items! Tail O’ the Pup is doggo friendly as well which automatically makes this the best dinner in town in my book.

Farm to Table Selections.

Best Lake Placid Beers

Big Slide Brewery

5686 CASCADE RDLAKE PLACID, NY 12946(518) 523-7844

Always my go-to dinner spot when I’m visiting Lake Placid and for good reason! As if farm to table food, locally sourced wasn’t reason enough to deem this the best dinner in Lake Placid, Big Slide also features 10 house beers on tap! These beers come from the brewhouse barrels visible from the hostess stand and parts of the dining area. The open concept allows a peek into the kitchen as well which makes this a pretty neat spot all around!

We always start our meal off with a beer, or a flight if we’re not sure what’s tickling our fancy this time around. The aged Ubu Ale is my all-time favorite! An eclectic pizza order is always next; the way Executive Chef Greg Sherman combines food items is truly an art. Whether you’re looking simply for a dinner plate, sharing a bunch of apps, or grabbing a sandwich you will not be disappointed. In my most recent dining escapade at Big Slide I enjoyed the Chicken Fried Chicken so much that I physically scraped the plate clean and almost asked for another order.

Despite always being full, sometimes special occasions call for ordering dessert, in which case – eat it all! Big Slide also has a Sunday brunch menu and hosts a number of special events. The menu does a really awesome job of showing what is gluten-free and vegan-friendly as well. Be sure to appreciate the names and description of the food items on the menu as you peruse, they’re pretty clever.

Popular Beer Selections.

Lake Placid Pub and Brewery

813 MIRROR LAKE DRLAKE PLACID, NY 12946 (518) 523-3813

Lake Placid Pub and Brewery is right off the main hustle and bustle of Main Street, but always equally as busy and for good reason! Three stories, each with their own bar and particular vibe provide craft beers for all. Known for their award-winning ales and lagers for over 20 years now, Lake Placid Pub and Brewery has earned a real name for itself.

The beers aren’t the only thing that keep people coming back to Lake Placid Pub and Brewery. The large variety of food options provided by their menu keeps guests of all ages well-fed. Pub fare style food supplies options such as fried pickles and salads, to pizzas, burgers, and sandwiches. Most recently, the Salmon BLT and the Northville-Placid Trail IPA guided my palette to happiness.

Large, Delicious Portions.

Photo Credit: LakePlacid.com

Delta Blue

2520 MAIN STREETLAKE PLACID, NY 12946 (518) 302-5810

Known as your northern home for southern food, Delta Blue’s menu has all of your favorites with a bit of a Louisiana twang. Good food, craft beers on tap, weather permitting indoor/outdoor seating, and live music right on Main Street in Lake Placid, makes this a great stop for a full meal or appetizers. The serving sizes are quite large here which makes this a contender for the best dinner in this Adirondack town.

Start your meal off with the Nacho bucket. Large enough to appease a group of 3-4 hungry hikers before dinner and with the opportunity to add guac, meat, and more to your bucket, you can really make it your own. Fried Pickles, Gumbo Poutine, and Frog Legs appetizers will have you feeling like you’ve lost the northern Adirondacks and found yourself in the deep south! The Tolo Salad, which consisted of pistachio-crusted goat cheese, mixed greens, craisins, and balsamic vinaigrette -PLUS chicken- really hit the spot after a couple of days on the trail. The perfect combination of tangy and sweet while also eating produce had me wishing I had more!

Scenic seating in Lake Placid.

Photo Credit: Black Bear’s Facebook Page

Black Bear Restaurant.

2409 MAIN STLAKE PLACID, NY 12946(518) 837-5166

A great spot right at the end of Main St. in Lake Placid with beautiful views of Mirror Lake. The stunning, on-the-water views of the lake put this restaurant in the running for best dinner. Being farther down the strip, this spot tends to be significantly less busy while still serving delicious food. With a variety of steak and pasta offerings to top off a delicious appetizer alongside friendly service and pretty views, you can’t go wrong at Black Bear Restaurant. Escape the crowds of Main Street and enjoy a great meal!

There are SO many great Lake Placid Restaurants, each with their unique reasons why people love them! Some other fan favorites are Smoke Signals (although very busy), Liquids and Solids, Cafe Rustica and Wyatt’s. Work up an appetite by hiking a Lake Placid 9er before dinner! This hiking challenge provides 9 local mountains of varying difficulty – if you hike them all, you’ll earn a patch!